This paper discloses the new stabilization approach (patent pending) where miniature, low-cost, linear accelerometers are used (instead of gyros) to sense three-dimensional angular motion. The platform-control system uses the measured angular accelerations to generate movement commands for the gimbal servo motors. This counter-rotates the sensing device to stabilize its Line- of-Sight (LOS). Two control strategies are presented: one for the case where the accelerometers are placed on the stabilized element; the other for the case where the accelerometers measure vehicle motion. In the second case, gimbal motion is governed by counter-rotation setpoints. Setpoint generation is based on a stabilization criteria that projects the angular acceleration vectors of the platform and the vehicle onto a common reference frame and equates the resultant to zero. This provides a system of equations that can be solved to calculate the necessary gimbal motion (setpoints) to counteract vehicle motion. Test results for a proof-of-concept unit are also provided, demonstrating the feasibility of stabilizing sensor LOS with linear accelerometers. The technique to extract angular information from the output of linear accelerometers is also discussed.

Date Published: 1 August 1991
PDF: 16 pages
Proc. SPIE 1482, Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing V, (1 August 1991); doi: 10.1117/12.45711

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1482:
Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing V
Michael K. Masten; Larry A. Stockum, Editor(s)